"Laughter is wine for the soul - laughter soft, or loud and deep, tinged through with seriousness - the hilarious declaration made by man that life is worth living." Sean O'Casey
It's hard to imagine, a world without St. Patrick's Day parades and parties. The virus with the same name as a famous beer, has poured the Irish green beer down the sink this year. There'll be no pub parties, or street parties in Ireland, or anywhere. As one Manhattan Irishman mourned, it's like taking away our Christmas. You can't take away that Irish sense of humour.
Paddy steps out of a bakery, and bumps into his buddy Mick. He says to Mick, "If you can guess how many doughnuts I have in this bag, you can have both." Mick laughs, and says, "Paddy, if it were raining soup, you'd be out here with a fork!"
If you're like me, you deal with stress through humour. In the words of Irish playwright, Sean O'Casey, the Irish (and I am half Irish), "treat a joke as something serious, and something serious, as a joke." It's not that we lack intelligence, compassion, reverence, or sensitivity, it's just that laughter helps get our breath back, after we've been punched in the gut. Being able to see things from another perspective, and being able to pull emotions out of a downward slide, are two great survival skills.
It takes more than a couple of extra rolls of toilet paper and a cupboard filled with food, to keep nerves calm when everyone around you is talking about a worldwide pandemic. Who's really prepared for a crisis like this? Another O'Casey gem comes to mind, "all the world's a stage, and most of us are desperately unrehearsed."
Canada's Prime Minister and his wife have been in self isolation since last week, when it was confirmed that Sophie Gregoire Trudeau had tested positive for the COVID-19 virus. With schools, recreation centres, entertainment centres, movie theatres, and restaurants all closing across Canada this week, many people are self isolating, because...what else are they going to do? Well...there is talk of a mini baby boom in about nine months (and the emergence of "quaranteens" in 2033).
My favourite Facebook quote of the day, "actually, it's only quarantine if it comes from the Quarantine region of France; otherwise, it's just sparkling isolation." What a great way of describing it! I hope by day three, of a 14-day self-isolation course, everyone still feels sparkly!
While being in quarantine means staying indoors, those who are self-isolating can get out for fresh air, sunshine and exercise. If you can't take in the sunshine, take Vitamin D (recommended by the government of Canada). I swear by Oil of Oregano. I haven't had a cold or flu in three years! Most of all, wash your hands - frequently!
I was reading about the latest trend, which is spreading globally. Rather than scaremongering, people are caremongering. At a time of social isolation, social media is a way to keep in touch with those who are isolated, and provide friends and strangers with food and supplies to get them through the days ahead.
Paddy says to Mick, "Where were you going, when I saw you coming back? I ran after you, but by the time, I'd caught up to you, you were gone." The very definition of a Dubliner's parade! In the absence of a St. Patrick's Day parade, the Irish have started an on-line parade of photos, jokes, stories, music and song...sort of a St. Patrick's Day party around the computer screen. We in Canada, call that a kitchen party!
Did you hear about Murphy? He lost one hundred dollars on the Melbourne Cup horse race. Poor dear, also lost another hundred on the television replay!
Photographs Copyright of: Ruth Adams, Widow's Endorphins Photographic Images Incorporated.
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